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First published Feb. 16, 1984: If February happens to be your turn to entertain the ladies' club,you may have to decide between serving Lincoln log cake or cherrypie, but chances are you may serve heart-shaped cookies instead.That is about as much thought as we give to patriotic celebrationsin February nowadays. However, there was a time when February meantgetting out the flags and bunting and decorating for some bigcelebrations. I wonder how many people even realized that this week [in 1984]marks the 175th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. Seventy-five years ago, Westfield celebrated the centennial ofLincoln's birth with a program at the Presbyterian Church. It wasunder the auspices of William Sackett Post, G.A.R. Some of us canremember when a few Civil War veterans were living, but in 1909they were a very active group. The Jan. 27, 1909 Westfield Republican carried an announcement ofthe up-coming celebration and a note that "Clergy are requested tohave special services the Sunday preceding February 12th." In thesame paper an ad for the Citizen's Bank of Westfield contained thisquotation from Abraham Lincoln, "A man's fortune is in his ownhands. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich." The Feb. 17 paper carried a report of the celebration under theheadline "Honor to Lincoln." The Presbyterian Church was crowded byold and young. The services under the auspices of the G.A.R. werein charge of Patriotic Instructor P.W. Bemis. The pupils of thehigher grades of Union School and High School attended in a bodyand occupied chairs and pews in front of the pulpit. Members ofWilliam Sackett Post also attended in a body and occupied frontseats. P.W. Bemis made an appropriate opening address. Singing was in charge of Professor H.J. Humpstone. Words to"Battle-Hymn of the Republic," "Star Spangled Banner" and "MyCountry, 'Tis of Thee," all verses, were printed on the program. Rev. Delaplain, Methodist, addressed the group on the subject"Lincoln as a Man and Citizen" and Rev. MacClelland, Presbyterian,"Lincoln as President." "The service in every way was a fittingtribute to the Savior of our Country and will be long remembered bythose who were present." Even though 1909 was Lincoln's centennial year, George Washingtonwas not forgotten. A play entitled "Heir of Mount Vernon" waspresented at the Opera House in Westfield by local talent. The castincluded John and Paul Welch, Frances Rood, Lucy Usborne andMinford Douglas. Music was provided by Harry Usborne's Orchestra. Each February, Westfield's most famous story is retold - the storyof the little girl, Grace Bedell, who wrote to President-electLincoln suggesting that he grow whiskers. Often repeated also is the story of Lincoln's funeral trainstopping in Westfield to take on wood and water, when a party offive ladies boarded the car and laid a floral wreath on the casketinscribed "Ours the Cross; Thine the Crown." One of those ladieswas Clary Utley Drake, widow of Col. Jeremiah C. Drake, the Baptistminister who was probably Westfield's most famous Civil War hero. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China Tongue Piercing Barbell , China Ear Stretchers Tapers, and more. For more , please visit Circular Barbell Jewelry today!
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